William Richards Sr

Last week, cousins and I went to explore the land where our family began here in the "New World". We drove to Jamestown, Virginia, crossed the James river, where our forefathers had done some 400 years ago. We wanted to see the land that was granted to our g.g.g.g.g.g.g.g.g.grandfather and see if there was a court house. Without any problem, we located a large reseach room within the Land Office of the Court House for Isle of Wight, Virginia. There we found a treasure chest of information.

At Jamestown, Virginia and crossed the river by Ferry over to Smithfield, Virginia and only a couple of miles, we found the Isle of Wight Courthouse.

To our great surprise, there in the records, we found a missing link...William Richards Sr. Can't wait to wade into this information. I plan to go back at the end of this month to document all the information for our records.

This photo is made crossing the James River and looking back on the ships that are docked with the ships in 1607 landed.

You are looking at the area of the river our g.g.g.g.g.g.g.g.g. grandfather crossed some 400 years ago.
As stated before, England is a small country. As the population grew, opportunities lessened. All the land by the year 1600 was owned. English tradition was to pass down the family land to the oldest son.

The other siblings got nothing. therefore, they had no opportunity to be a landowners there in England. For this reason, they obviously thought it worth risking their life to come to The New World, which was to come to Jamestown,Virginia.

We know George Sherrod was aboard one of the first ships bringing hopeful young people over in the early 1600's. And as you can see from the Isle of Wight Banner, he was one of the first settlers in that Colony.

It is documented that 60% of those who set sail died during the rough three month voyage.

The ships were crowded and only for the strongest survived. These photos were made August 2008
Photo is Alisha Richards Chandler Brandom with actors dressed as the passangers were dressed in 1607 and later.
The topography there is flat and seemingly ideal for good farm lands. There is a wonderful Court House and very large Land Office in Isle of Wight. The books/records date back to 1647.

Looking back from the Ferry, we could see the ships which are a remarkable re-creation of the first ships to bring the English to the New World and landed at this very spot.

The Ferry ride was about 15 minutes as the James River is wide and beautiful, lined with thick hardwood trees.

This is a close up of one of the ships which we later boarded.

We took a few minutes to look for our great, g. g.g.g.g.g.g.g. grandfathers name...and found yet another name...William Richards, Sr. There is much to research. Plans to go back at the end of this month to document all information for our family.

The Isle of Wight is only a couple of miles from Smithfield, Virginia where they have lodging. I plan to stay for as long as needed.

Do check back, as I will add all information found ...should be here in early September, 08.

June Richards Daab, August, 2008